The Cool Grandpa Podcast

Ted Page joins the conversation this week to discuss his work to define and capture what it means to be a "Good Grandpa." Since the last time we spoke, Ted has started a journey of writing a book that he hopes allows him to capture the different ways and attitudes of being a grandfather. In his own words, Ted hopes "...to harvest and share the collective wisdom of grandpas all around the world in a wide range of countries and cultures, from Cherokee Native Americans in North Carolina, to Maine fisherman, to tribal elders in Kenya, to Captains of Industry in Connecticut." As part of this quest to gather and share the wisdom of many grandfathers, Ted will ask them to distill down their responses to answer the following question: "What is the #1 thing? The most essential and powerful wisdom you’ve learned that you want the next generation to know?" During our conversation, you will learn the responses that Ted has gathered so far from Tom Brokaw and John Cleese. You may or may not be surprised, but everyone has a different "1 Thing." If you are already thinking about your answer to this question, reach out to Ted at ted@goodgrandpa.com and let him know your answer. Who knows, you might end up in his book. Once you have listened to this conversation, please share it with three friends who would enjoy listening to Ted's insights about being a Good Grandpa. Links Click on the following link to listen to my conversation with Ted as we talk about his experience with being a grandfather and his blog, Good Grandpa. https://cool-grandpa.us/2021/07/ep-40-good-grandpa/ To sign up for Ted's blog and to check out Good Grandpa, use this link: https://goodgrandpa.com/ Check out Ted's Instagram page at: https://www.instagram.com/goodgrandpablog/ You can follow and connect with Ted on LinkedIn by clicking this link: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ted-page-b79482/ If you would like to reach out to Ted and say hello, or better yet, talk to him about being a Good Grandpa, you can connect with him by using this email: ted@goodgrandpa.com

Welcome to 2024! As we kick off this new year and new opportunities for learning, leading, and loving our families, I wanted to talk with you about navigating three challenges that Grandfathers experience when caring for grandchildren. The first challenge that I think a lot of grandfathers face is what to do about disciplining the grandkids when they are in our care. I get it. As a fun and cool grandfather, you don't want to be in the business of disciplining the grandkids. However, sometimes, reinforcing mom and dad's rules is called for. For this simple fact, when the grandkids start gaining a little independence and start testing mom and dad's boundaries, a conversation NEEDS to be had by the parents and grandparents. You need to get on the same page regarding what is permissible and what the parents consider out of bounds when it comes to course-correcting the little ones. The second challenge that grandpas tackle is the challenge of food. I'm not talking about starving the kids or not, but rather, what are our limits for the types of foods the parents want the little ones to have? I once made the mistake of giving a tortilla chip to my grandson and quickly got talked to by his mom AND grandma. Talk about getting the old 'one-two punch.' Parents are going to expect grandpas to play fast and loose with some of the rules when it comes to treats and sweets. But we should be having continuing conversations with our grandchildren's moms and dads about food. What do the grandkids like? What don't they like? Are there any allergies? If there are allergies, how severe are the reactions? What do we do when the kids don't eat all their carrots? As you can guess, communication is huge here when it comes to figuring out what is and isn't on the menu regarding feeding grandkids. That doesn't mean that you can't slip the kids an extra cookie here or there...as long as it won't kill them, of course. The last challenge I discuss in this podcast episode is about firsts. Do you remember your first....whatever it was? A lot of times with a new baby, there is a lot of stress with young parents to be around for every first. First steps, first words, first poop in the toilet, first swear word, etc. As a grandfather, we need to be careful not to accidentally take away a first for our young parents to enjoy. Sometimes, you can't help it. The little ones do something and bang, a first has just happened that you didn't plan for. Kids are like that. Just remember that when you are doing great activities with the grandkids you haven't done before, you let the parents know what is going on. This is so they let you know that they would either like to be part of that activity or maybe want to have that moment for themselves and their child. If you can think of other challenges that grandfathers need to be careful to navigate, let me know in the comments below. If you haven't subscribed to the podcast, please do so. Also, I would appreciate it if you would share this episode and podcast with three other friends who would like to hear encouraging thoughts and information that everyone can use.

If you are like me, it can sometimes be confusing or downright baffling what to do for your friends and family members when it comes to Holidays, Birthdays, or heck, just when you want to do something nice for them. I know that there are all different kinds of ways that people express appreciation and love for those people close to them, but I think for most of us, it comes down to feeling like we have to "get them something." I am right there with you. Maybe a bit more. You see, I FEEL like I am showing love and appreciation by finding the perfect card, gift, or event. Nothing else seems to create that sense of having done the right thing for someone if it doesn't involve a thing, at least for me. After almost four years of talking with grandfathers, adult grandchildren, and experts on grandparenting, the thing that means the most to grandkids, and I think to other people, is time. I know what you are about to say, "I cherish the pocketknife I received when Grandpa thought I was old enough to have one." It is not that things can't mean a lot to us, but I am going to bet that what the pocketknife represents most are the memories of spending time with Grandpa learning how to whittle down a branch to use as a skewer to cook a hotdog with. Time is the one thing none of us can get back and the one thing that most of us wish we had more, especially when thinking of the time, or lack thereof, that we had to spend with close friends and family. This Christmas and Holiday season, I want to challenge you to find ways to give the gift of your time above the gifts you can purchase. To help you out, here are a few ways that I have learned from other cool grandpas to share the gift of YOU. Share a walk or a hike without earbuds or electronics. Grab a spontaneous meal and spend one-on-one time without rushing to return. Play a board game. You can find tremendous two-player games if you want that valuable one-on-one time or multi-player games. The point is to have some fun and conversations while doing something together. Play a game of 'Horse' at the local school or playground. 'Horse' is excellent for us old guys because you are doing something that allows the grandchild to show off some athletic skills while still not risking life and limb if you haven't been active lately. If available, get in a canoe or row boat and paddle around with your grandchild. Being in a boat is a great way to talk and NOT have to look at each other, especially if you want to talk about heavier subjects. Find a car show and walk around talking about cars, girls, growing up, etc. Whatever is on your mind and theirs. Make a fire. Having a fire is a great way to relax and let the magic of the fire take over and guide the conversation. Don't have a backyard where you can have a fire; it's not a big deal. Get yourself a small portable firepit or stove. Trust me, there is something about a fire that lends itself to conversation. Read a book to the grandchildren. If you have younger grandchildren, they may not be able to participate in some of the other activities...yet. However, reading a book or story to them is an excellent way for grandchildren to become interested in the story AND you. Much of what I have suggested on this list are activities you can do with your adult friends and family. At the end of the day, the people that I have cared most about are the people that I would like to have had more time with. More time to shoot the stuff with. More time to sing with. More time to be around with. So, this season, as we are looking for the be-all-end-all-gift that says we are thinking of someone. Do them and YOU a favor and give the gift of YOUR TIME. If you have enjoyed this conversation, please do me a favor and share it with three friends who would like this podcast episode.

Todd Howard joins our conversation to talk about the importance of men finding connections and friendship. Todd is a great guy from North Atlanta. You are going to find that Todd is as passionate as I am about supporting men in building and maintaining friendships as we grow older and take on more responsibilities in our lives. What is excellent about Todd is that he wasn't content to see a problem and talk about it. No, he went out and created a solution. A solution that is not therapy (nothing wrong with going to and being active in therapy), not churchy (nothing wrong with spirituality or church), but a solution that is as easy as having a fire in the backyard or middle of the culdesac with guys that live right in your neighborhood. We walk through the process that Todd has created that anyone can implement where they live. This is a simple process that will help you build a tighter community, create lasting friendships, AND make sure that YOU know that you are not alone on your journey through life. Once you have listened to this fantastic conversation, please share it with three friends who would like to hear Todd's message about the importance of friendship and how to build closer relationships with those great people who live around us. Links Click on this link to learn more about Todd and Firepit Men's Group: https://firepitmensgroup.com/

Scott Rammage joins the conversation this week to talk about his grandfathers and his project, The Brotherhood of Fatherhood, that seeks to help men be the leaders and whole men they intended to be. As we begin our discussion, Scott talks about his two grandfathers. His mother's father was a janitor and worked hard to provide for his family. We learn how his grandfather was a lightning rod for blame and negative feelings about being poor and having a difficult life. We also learn about Scott's grandfather from his dad's side of the family. Scott recalls spending much time on Dimond Lake in the Oregon mountains. You will enjoy learning about the impact of these two hard-working men who found ways to spend time with Scott. Scott and I pivot during our conversation to discuss fathers and the challenges and opportunities men have as fathers to instruct and lead their children and families. During our conversation, we discussed how grandfathers and mentors can work hand in glove with the fathers and families to provide a longer-term view of children's growth, where parents are often faced and react more tactically. We also understand how older fathers and grandfathers can support their adult sons through troubling times by being vulnerable and open about our struggles and shortcomings. Scott suggests that when we, as fathers, open ourselves up, our children are more likely to share their struggles, which allows for healing and resolution. Once you have listened to this conversation, be sure to share this important episode with three friends who would benefit from Scott's wisdom and insights. To hear the conversation that I had on Scott's podcast, click on this link: https://www.thebrotherhoodoffatherhood.com/podcast/episode/2ee0ba1c/preparing-to-be-a-cool-granpa-with-greg-payne. Links Check out The Brotherhood of Father Hood at this link: https://www.thebrotherhoodoffatherhood.com/ If you want to join Scott's Facebook group, click this link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/brotherhoodoffatherhood. Scott has an Instagram page you can check out and follow: https://www.instagram.com/brotherhoodoffatherhood/. Here is the Amazon link for the book Discipline is Destiny: https://www.amazon.com/Discipline-Destiny-Power-Self-Control-Virtues-ebook/dp/B09PB1SB72. Here is the link to my conversation from The Brotherhood of Fatherhood podcast: https://www.thebrotherhoodoffatherhood.com/podcast/episode/2ee0ba1c/preparing-to-be-a-cool-granpa-with-greg-payne.

Our conversation with Renee Balcom Renee is one of these folks who take a career turn and unexpectedly find their passion in service and educating others. You will enjoy hearing how Renee started in Silicon Valley in the 1970s and quickly rose to the ranks of the CEO of a technology company in the 1980s. After having enough of Silicon Valley, she moved what she refers to as her tribe to Southwest Oregon. After economic and personal setbacks, Renee started to work in the adult care industry. One of the attendees of an event that Renee spoke at asked Renee to attend a doctor's appointment. Soon, the doctor's office had several other patients that the doctor thought could use Renee's blend of empathy and business smarts. Renee quickly found a real need in the world to have someone outside the healthcare crisis or care who could advise the patient on navigating the different treatment options. This person or healthcare advocate supports the patient and family through the diagnosis and care plan process. You are going to enjoy this conversation with Renee. She does a great job of making this complex topic simple to understand. Whether you are in the "sandwich generation" or someone who is getting a little older, there is some fantastic AND actionable information that you can use to be proactive in creating a care plan for you or your loved ones. Once you have listened to this conversation, be sure to share it with three friends or family members who would benefit from listening to this conversation with Rene. Links If you want to check out Renee and Company and download The Advocacy Tip Sheet, you can click on this link: https://www.reneecompany.com/ To reach out and email Renee and her team, you can contact her at this email address: renee@reneecompany.com You can also call Renee's team by using this phone number: (844) 661-2369.

Our conversation with Stephen Gomes Stephen Gomes joins us this week to talk about Reverse and Flex Mortgages. Stephen does a great job explaining how the different lending options or products are a step up from what was available back in the 1970s and 1980s. Like many of you, I didn't know how much these products had changed or if they had changed from their early incarnations. I brought up with Stephen many of the preconceived ideas and stories that I had heard about reverse mortgages. You will enjoy and appreciate how Stephen uses everyday examples and easy-to-understand language to step us through the many different options and scenarios he and his group, OPTIO Financing, work with every week. It was so great talking with Stephen that I invited him to come back on the podcast to discuss his grandfather's influence on him while he was growing up. After you listen to this episode, please remember to share it with three friends or family members who would benefit from listening to this episode. Also, check out the links below to get in contact with OPTIO Financing and Stephen. Links Here is the link to OPTIO Financing: https://optiofinancing.com/ You can follow OPTIO Financing on Facebook by clicking this link: https://www.facebook.com/OPTIOfinancing If you want to follow OPTIO Financing on LinkedIn, you can use this link: https://www.linkedin.com/company/optio-financing/

Our conversation with Debra Weller With Autumn starting to turn the leaves colorful and leaving a bit of an evening chill in the air, our thoughts begin to turn towards festivals and the end of the year. Debra Weller, a master storyteller, joins us again to discuss the great traditions of end-of-the-year storytelling. Debra discusses the rich traditions that just about all cultures have for gathering in the harvest, preparing for the winter, and the celebrations of successful hunts. Stories around campfires, kitchen tables, and large mead halls entertain us, scare us, and can also teach us. As a professional storyteller, Debra shares her experiences using stories to build connections with grandchildren, whether young or old. She talks to us about setting the stage and setting for stories and how we can use and develop gifts for storytelling. A great tip Debra discusses is that retelling classic stories with our personalities and twists can be a fun and easy way to share stories with our grandchildren and other family members. Be sure to check out the link below to Debra's first visit with us for even more helpful tips and insightful lessons about the power of storytelling. Once you have listened to this podcast episode, please remember to share it with three friends who would enjoy listening to Debra's storytelling wisdom and advice. Links Here is the link to our previous conversation with Debra: https://cool-grandpa.us/2023/08/ep-144-being-a-storyteller/ To check out Debra's YouTube Channel, click this link: https://www.youtube.com/@DebraWellerStoryteller8084. This is the link to Debra's website: https://story-tellingcourses.com/ I am sure you will enjoy following Debra on Facebook. Here is the link for you to get in touch with her on that site: https://www.facebook.com/debra.weller.18

Our Monthly One-on-One Conversation This month's conversation is about goals. I know this isn't November or December, the usual months when we start thinking about goals or New Year Resolutions. I felt that we needed to talk about goals as we head into the last quarter of the year so that our thoughts about goals and their importance don't get lost in the shuffle of holidays, visits with grandchildren, and just the general year-end hustle and bustle. As part of Dan Miller's 48 Days group, he challenged us to listen to the audio recording of The Strangest Secret. (Here is the YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmK-GlRWZUk) Our challenge was to listen to this recording for 30 days straight. I will have heard this program for 30 days when this podcast is released. Over the last few years, I have shifted my perspective about goals. Most of the time, when I heard about goals, it was in the context of a manager telling me what I needed to address or improve at work. I never really embraced that power of goals before listening to some classic thinkers and writers, such as Zig Zigler, Dan Miller, Dale Carnegie, Napoleon Hill, and many others. I can tell you that last year, I created 12 different goals for myself. Almost all of them were ambitious and probably too much so. Several were related to physical activities that, now looking back, were not so realistic. But the thing is, that doesn't matter. It doesn't matter because having those goals and reading them often on the cards I wrote them out made me think constantly about how I could achieve them. This year, though, I want you to join me in this exercise, and then next year, at this time, let's see where you and I end up. I want you to write out one goal in each of the following areas of your life. Mental Spiritual Physical Family Financial Personal Career Don't create any more than these seven. Anything more and you will dilute your ability to focus, exercise faith, imagine how you will achieve the goal, and then work towards that goal. At the end of the day, though, I want you to use what works for you. If that is my suggestion of having one vision of yourself for next year that the seven spokes of the wheel of life support, great. Suppose you find or have used something else awesome. The main point is to move towards something instead of being a "wandering generality." Be sure to listen to this podcast for more information about the importance of setting, creating, and working towards goals. Also, in the podcast, I will share ideas about using one or two goals with your grandchildren to build a connection point, have fun, and share mutual progress towards a worthy end. I have some helpful links to information you can use to create your goals for this coming year. Remember, we want to have the goals by the end of October. Links The Strangest Secret on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmK-GlRWZUk Zig Ziglar's Wheel of Life: https://www.ziglar.com/articles/the-wheel-of-life/ Access to Dan Miller's Worksheets: https://www.48days.com/worksheets/

Our conversation with Chris Bruno Chris Bruno from ReStory Counseling joins us today to discuss men entering their second stage of life. We discuss how this second stage of life can be the most powerful in our story. While we will undoubtedly experience decline in many different areas, IF we are open to working on ourselves, we CAN use these years to, as Obi-Wan Kenobi said, "...become more powerful than you ever imagined." Chris wrote a book called Sage: A Man's Guide Into His Second Passage. As you will hear in the conversation, I read this book and was deeply impacted by Chris's invitation to men to work to become a sage. I have felt but was unable to explain, as well as Chris, that as we head into our second half, we could play a larger role in our world and not simply age and fade away. Grandfathers and men can and should take up the mantle of sage, guide, and quiet leader and use this position to build up and lead the following generation of men and women. Perhaps if enough of us quietly go about our lives as sages, some, not all, of the troubles that others experience can be lessened. If we can't lessen them, maybe as a sage, we can help guide our adult children, grandchildren, and others through their challenges with quiet love and wisdom. You will enjoy this conversation. Once you have listened to it, please check out the links below AND share this conversation with three friends who need to hear Chris's fantastic message and call. Links Chris has an awesome gathering for men coming up in January of 2024. Here is the link to sign up for this experience:    https://restorationproject1.regfox.com/sage-scotland-2024 I can't recommend this book enough. Sage: A Man's Guide Into His Second Passage is an incredible experience. I would recommend this book for yourself or for the men in your life who are entering their second half:   https://a.co/d/aBOO9QT If you would like to learn more about Chris and the work that his team at The ReStory Counseling group does, please click on this link: https://www.restory.life/ To learn more about the Restoration Project, click on this link: https://www.restorationproject.net/

Our conversation with Curt and Cindy Liljedahl This week's conversation is with a very cool couple. Curt and Cindy join us to talk about the importance of adventures as part of our retired lives. We hear a great story about their experience of becoming grandparents. Curt does his best to embarrass Cindy with his story, which any good husband does. It is great learning about how Curt and Cindy experienced adventures while growing up before they had children (BC) and now that they are retired. We talk about how Cindy's grandparents would take her, her siblings, and cousins and travel to the Ozarks camping. Curt's grandparents bought a family-owned resort in Minnesota where family members would come and go all summer long. Curt and Cindy have a great podcast, AdventuRetired, where they interview people about their adventures in retirement. Cindy and Curt shared an important point that adventures don't have to start as treks along the Pacific Crest Trail. Adventures can be smaller, especially if you are starting to ramp things up. A great adventure could be going to your local state or National Park and car camping. Another example they provided is that you could go in with family members and rent or buy box seats at a sporting event and let everyone enjoy time in a city, taking in a ball game and exploring the city with the family. Whatever you decide to do with you, your spouse, or your family, the mindset of making an activity an adventure can add to the experience. Certainly, using the vocabulary of an adventure will leave a lasting impression on the grandchildren. It is those memories of experiences with Grandma and Grandpa that will last longer than any toy that they receive. Once you have listened to this conversation, be sure to share it with three friends or family members who will enjoy listening to Curt and Cindy's stories and insights about the importance of having adventures. Also, please subscribe to Curt and Cindy's podcast. The link to their show is listed below. Links Click on this link to visit AdventuRetired, and don't forget to sign up for the podcast. https://www.adventuretired.com/ You can use this link to follow Curt and Cindy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adventuretired/ If you would like to follow AdventuRetired on Facebook, you can use this link: https://www.facebook.com/AdventuRetired/

Beverley Glazer MA., CCC is a Coach, Therapist, Internationally Certified Addiction Specialist, Author, and Founder of Reinvent Imposible Inc; a personal development company that educates, coaches and empowers older women who've experienced a 'wake-up call' that left them feeling powerless or without purpose, to build on their strengths, create possibilities and discover the joy in living their full potential. She is a former talk-radio host, and the originator of The Reinvention Formula ™, a proven and surprisingly easy coaching system, combining scientific knowledge with down-to-eart wisdom, that provides all the tools and support, you need, to bounce back with resilience in a minimum amount of time - and more importantly, you put the tools into practice and realized a new and exciting life. Her weekly podcast, "Aging with Purpose and Passion" is aligned with her mission, that it is never too late, and you're never too old, to reinvent yourself, find your purpose and become who you've always imagined." Beverley joins the conversation this week at my invitation so that I can ask her what men like me (husband, brother, son, father, and grandfather) can do to support the women in our lives as they enter mid-life and beyond. I think that, rightly or wrongly, when we think of people entering mid-life, our minds go to the men in our lives. We have the stereotypes of men in the 40s, 50s, and beyond, leaving our spouses for younger women, buying sports cars, and possibly experiencing a mid-life crisis. As Beverley helps me understand, women often experience many of the same issues, but the symptoms or expressions of those issues are often different from men. She talks about how the data shows that more than half the women in the world have given up on their dreams and passions. That they are living lives dissatisfied and resentful. Like myself, you will enjoy this conversation AND learn a lot from a fantastic coach and someone with a great track record of helping women reinvent themselves. After you have listened to this episode, please share it with three friends who would benefit from learning how men can support the women in our lives as they enter mid-life. Hopefully, we can support them through this season of change like so many of them help us adjust to our new stage in life. Below, please check out Beverley's website, podcast, and social media connections. Links Beverley's website is Reinvent Impossible (https://reinventimpossible.com)   Social Links: FB: https://www.facebook.com/beverley.glazer LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/beverleyglazer/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beverleyglazer_reinvention/ Facebook group WomenOver50 ROCK www.facebook.com/groups/womenover50rock Is your life in balance?: https://reinventimpossible1.lpages.co/life-perspective-inventory/

Our monthly one-on-one conversation This is our monthly one-on-one conversation, and this month, I wanted to be sure to celebrate you, the very cool Grandmother and Grandfather. Yes, I know this is The Cool Grandpa Podcast, but we have some fantastic Grandmothers listening in to keep us honest. As a grandparent, you matter greatly to your grandchildren's mental and physical well-being. This statement is true regardless of whether you live 5 minutes from the grandchildren or 5,000 miles away. The fact is that your grandchildren need AND want you to be a part of their lives, yes, even when they are teenagers, and it seems like they couldn't give you the time of day. Here are five areas where you can have a direct impact on your grandchildren: Unconditional Love Perspective Stability Adventures and Exploration of the world around them Connections and a sense of "place" in the family and world Grandparents Academy is a great tool to add to your fantastic tool kit. I do have an affiliate relationship with Grandparents Academy. So I want to be upfront and honest with you about my relationship with them. However, even if I didn't have this relationship, I would still be taking the time to talk to you about Grandparents Week, hosted by Grandparents Academy. I'm honored to be presenting as part of Grandparents Week about how to turbocharge the grandfathering experience. Grandparents Week is the largest virtual celebration and educational conference for grandparents. GrandparentsAcademy.com has over 20 experts, mini-classes, and prizes for this incredible event scheduled for Sept. 10 - 16, 2023. General Admission is free, and giveaways are for those who register in advance. Get signed up at: https://training.grandparentsacademy.com/a/2147558286/ikxv5HFd Here is a list of some of the topics that are going to be covered during this event: Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Grandparenting Grandparenting from a Distance First Steps for New Grandparents Connecting with Teenage Grandchildren Resources for Raising Grandchildren Overcoming Grandparent Alienation I do hope that you checkout Grandparents Academy and sign up for Grandparents Week. At the end of the day though, I do believe in Grandparents Academy and the awesome work they are doing for Grandparents all around the world, and if it is right for you, you should join me in this fantastic community.

Brian Abram joins us to talk about his experience with being a grandfather. We also discuss how Brian's bicycling accident left him a paraplegic and wheelchair-bound. To explain why he was in a wheelchair, Brian devised a fun and highly exaggerated story for his grandson. You will enjoy how Brian has turned his accident into a charming way to talk to children about disabilities and how life is an adventure, and while we don't all travel the same path, we can all be kind to each other. Brian enjoys taking his characters, Charlie and Grandad Wheels, into schools and engaging the young children to use their imaginations to come up with their explanations about how Grandad got his wheels and what adventures they would have with Grandad Wheels. Through the generosity of his sponsors, illustrator, and others, Brian has been able to donate over £ 60,000 to two wheelchair charities that help people in wheelchairs live their everyday life. You will be inspired and amused hearing Brian relate how he has been able to connect with his grandson about the results of his accident and build up awareness that grandpas, no matter our circumstances, can be active and mischievous in our grandchildren's lives. Once you have enjoyed this conversation, please share it with three friends who want to learn more about how one grandad is normalizing the result of his accident with his grandson, the youth in his generation, and his community. From a funny family story, Grandad Wheels (the character) was born when Brian wisely followed his wife's advice to write the story and share it with other children. Links To visit Brian's website and connect with him, you can click on this link: https://www.grandadwheels.com/ If you would like to follow Grandad Wheels on Facebook, you can use this link: https://www.facebook.com/grandadwheels/ Should you need them, here is a link to Brian's sponsor, Irwin Mitchell:https://www.irwinmitchell.com/our-offices/united-kingdom/london?utm_source=Local&utm_medium=GoogleLocal&utm_campaign=Local+Business

This week's conversation centers on Family Care and how parents and grandparents can get alignment on who is responsible for what and how parents want their children cared for while in the care of the grandparents. DeeDee More, from More Than Grand, joins the conversation to discuss the importance of clearly understanding how parents would like to have their children taken care of. DeeDee also talks about how having the grandparents set expectations on what they can and can't do when caring for the grandchildren is important. We discussed the importance of having parents and grandparents write a caregiver agreement to avoid misunderstandings and have difficult conversations before a situation could cause conflict and strain a relationship. Throughout our fun conversation, we review some of the other available tools and products at More Than Grand. A link to our first conversation, which provides more background on DeeDee and why she started More Than Grand, is located in the show notes below. Once you have listened to this informative conversation, please share it with three friends who want to learn how More Than Grand can support new parents and grandparents. Links Click HERE to visit and explore More Than Grand. Please connect with DeeDee on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest. You can now purchase my children's book, My Grandpa's Grandpa, directly from my website. Click HERE for the link. I would appreciate it if you could support the show. You can support the show through "Buy me a Coffee" and donate a few dollars by clicking HERE. My children's book, My Grandpa's Grandpa, is also available for download. You can download the Kindle version by clicking on this LINK. Affiliate Links More Than Grand is an excellent resource for new grandparents AND parents. Listeners of The Cool Grandpa Podcast enjoy 10% off any fantastic products that More Than Grand provides by entering COOLGRANDPA10 at checkout. To visit More Than Grand, click HERE.

Will Braunstein is our guest this week. We discuss how grandfathers can help support our adult sons and sons-in-law. It was great to sit down with someone focused on the challenges that fathers are experiencing today and how through A Dad's Path, Will is working hard to ensure that fathers and families have the information and support they need. We talk about how fathers of adult children can be a resource for the family. A few of the ideas we discuss is actively listening to the triumphs and challenges that fathers face. Will also suggests withholding criticism or the temptation of saying things such as "that's not how we did it..." is important to not put fathers on the defensive about choices that they are making while raising their families. You will be inspired by how A Dad's Path came into existence and the help and support it can offer your sons or sons-in-law raising your grandchildren. Once you have listened to this episode, please share it with three family members or friends who could use encouragement and useful information on their journey. Links Click HERE to visit A Dad's Path. You can also use these links to subscribe to his newsletter and podcast. You can now purchase my children's book, My Grandpa's Grandpa, directly from my website. Click HERE for the link. I would appreciate it if you could support the show. You can support the show through "Buy me a Coffee" and donate a few dollars by clicking HERE. My children's book, My Grandpa's Grandpa, is also available for download. You can download the Kindle version by clicking on this LINK. Affiliate Links More Than Grand is an excellent resource for new grandparents AND parents. Listeners of The Cool Grandpa Podcast enjoy 10% off any fantastic products that More Than Grand provides by entering COOLGRANDPA10 at checkout. To visit More Than Grand, click HERE.

A friend of the show, Frank Pomata, joins us to discuss how grandfathers can release their creative spirits with projects and play with their grandchildren. Frank and I enjoy catching up and talking about how Frank started creating books based on the interests of his grandson. The first book, The Boy That Loved Garbage Trucks, is based on seeing a garbage truck making its rounds and following the truck. Frank asked his grandson, Lucian, what he thought was happening with the truck and the driver. Lucian's response and questions formed a story that became a fun book that they enjoy. Frank encourages all grandfathers to play with their grandchildren and let the grandfather's creative side come forward to create stories and scenarios for play with their grandchildren. Frank and I hope all grandfathers let their hair down, play with the grandchildren, create fun stories, and release their creative side. This is an important and fun conversation. I hope you share it with your other family and friends after you have listened to this show. Sharing is the best way to help me spread the word about the importance of grandfathers in the lives of their grandchildren and families. Links Click HERE to listen to the first conversation that Frank and I had on The Cool Grandpa Podcast. HERE is Frank's LinkedIn profile. If you connect with Frank, tell him you heard him on The Cool Grandpa Podcast. You can visit the IMDB site for the Dabney Coleman movie, Cloak & Dagger, which I referenced in our conversation, by clicking HERE. You can now purchase my children's book, My Grandpa's Grandpa, directly from my website. Click HERE for the link. I would appreciate it if you could support the show. You can support the show through "Buy me a Coffee" and donate a few dollars by clicking HERE. My children's book, My Grandpa's Grandpa, is now available for download. You can download the Kindle version by clicking on this LINK. Affiliate Links Grandparents Academy offers some great educational opportunities for grandfathers and grandmothers alike. Click HERE to pick a topic that is great for you. https://open.spotify.com/episode/2snnnZcWHXwleJlEsRIMRn You can listen to last week's episode and subscribe to the show on Spotify.  

Steven Arms joins the Cool Grandpa Podcast to discuss the importance of having a rite of passage for young men. Steven and I have the opportunity to discuss the concept and need for a rite of passage for young men and women. While we focus on rites of passage for young men, Steven does share some great stories about his female cousins having their own rites of passage. We dive into a great discussion at the top of the show to discuss how there are few ceremonies for young people to move from adolescence into adulthood. I talk about and ask Steven for his views on some of the secular signals of maturing, such as the Webelos cross-over ceremony to becoming a Boy Scout and even the transition from playing Little League (12 years and under) to moving up to playing Babe Ruth (13 years and older). While some passages mark youth advancing in age, nothing quite takes the place of a rite of passage into adulthood, where the youth is surrounded by family, religious members, and other adults to mark the occasion. Steven discusses his experience and how he and his father have worked together to create a great book, free resources, and a workbook to help other fathers and grandfathers develop their rite of passage for their families. This is a really important conversation, and I hope that after you have listened to this show, you share it and Steven's website with your other family and friends. Sharing is the best way to help me spread the word about the importance of grandfathers in the lives of their grandchildren and families. Links Click HERE to visit Steve's website, Milestone to Manhood To join our growing Facebook group, click HERE and join the ongoing conversations. You can now purchase my children's book, My Grandpa's Grandpa, directly from my website. Click HERE for the link. I would appreciate it if you could support the show. You can support the show through "Buy me a Coffee" and donate a few dollars by clicking HERE. My children's book, My Grandpa's Grandpa, is now available for download. You can download the Kindle version by clicking on this LINK. Affiliate Links Grandparents Academy offers some great educational opportunities for grandfathers and grandmothers alike. Click HERE to pick a topic that is great for you.

Nina Bard from BRD Sport joins us to discuss how having the proper compression brace can keep athletes and seniors active and participating in life. We had a great conversation about how NAFTA adversely affected her husband's business and how they are now focused on producing the best compression brace on the market. Nina shares some interesting stories about everyday people who have suffered for months and sometimes years with joint pain. Like me, these people often do not get relief from a neoprene sleeve or brace. Nina explains that the lack of results is often due to how the neoprene is sown AND the fact that the neoprene sleeve is not compression. Please check out the BRD Sport website and the other links below to learn how having a true compression device might be the key to keeping you active and pain-free. After you have listened to this episode, remember to like and subscribe to the show if you haven't already. Please share this podcast with three friends that enjoy this valuable information. Sharing is the best way to help me spread the word about the importance of grandfathers in the lives of their grandchildren and families. Links Click HERE to visit BRD Sport and learn more about compression and its products. To join our growing Facebook group, click HERE and join the ongoing conversations. You can now purchase my children's book, My Grandpa's Grandpa, directly from my website. Click HERE for the link. I would appreciate it if you could support the show. You can support the show through "Buy me a Coffee" and donate a few dollars by clicking HERE. My children's book, My Grandpa's Grandpa, is now available for download. You can download the Kindle version by clicking on this LINK. Affiliate Links Grandparents Academy offers some great educational opportunities for grandfathers and grandmothers alike. Click HERE to pick a topic that is great for you.

Ryan Nothhaft joins us to discuss his grandfather, Roy "Butch" Voris. We talk about Butch's life, growing up in Northern California and developing an interest in flying before the outbreak of WW II. We find out that Butch worked as a mortician before starting his pilot training. We also find out that Ryan and his grandfather were not both stellar students in high school, but the post-high school, they both "flipped a switch" and were able to focus and excel after leaving high school. Ryan shares some touching stories of spending lots of time with his grandfather while Ryan was growing up in Northern California, including morning bed inspections that his grandfather conducted when Ryan and his siblings would spend the night. Butch took Ryan to his first air show, where Ryan was able to meet members of the world-famous Blue Angels. In our conversation, Ryan shares how his grandfather was selected to start the Navy's air demonstration unit, the Blue Angels. You will enjoy this heartfelt conversation about the impact that Butch had on Ryan and his siblings. As part of the impact that Butch had on Ryan, Ryan started to document the Blue Angels on his YouTube channel 'Blue Angel Phantoms,' which started as a documentary on the Blue Angels 1971 team but is now documenting the Blue Angels as a whole. The result of Butch's impact on Ryan and Ryan's work is that Ryan was made an honorary member of the Blue Angels. After you have listened to this episode, remember to like and subscribe to the show if you haven't already. Please share this podcast with three friends that enjoy this valuable information. Sharing is the best way to help me spread the word about the importance of grandfathers in the lives of their grandchildren and families. Links and Picture Here is a picture of the first group of Blue Angels with Ryan's grandfather, Butch Voris. Click HERE to subscribe to Ryan's YouTube channel, Blue Angel Phantoms. Here is the link to Van Halen's video (A-4 version) Dreams: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5PqVeex4QU Here is the link to the updated Dreams video featuring the F-18: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEvEKGMsbjg You can click HERE to visit the Blue Angels Association for more information about the Blue Angels. I would appreciate it if you could support the show. You can support the show through "Buy me a Coffee" and donate a few dollars by clicking HERE. To join our growing Facebook group, click HERE and join the ongoing conversations. You can now purchase my children's book, My Grandpa's Grandpa, directly from my website. Click HERE for the link. My children's book, My Grandpa's Grandpa, is now available for download. You can download the Kindle version by clicking on this LINK. Affiliate Links Grandparents Academy offers some great educational opportunities for grandfathers and grandmothers alike. Click HERE to pick a topic that is great for you.